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This tank features the track retaining ring on the rear drive sprocket, but has the newer notched rear skirt design that helped prevent dirt buildup. The T156 track with integral rubber pads are on this tank. There are antenna mounts on the rear corners of the turret, and the crosswind sensor is folded over in the middle of the turret bustle's rear. (Picture taken 15 Aug 1984 by SPC5 Vincent Kitts; available from the Defense Visual Information Center.)
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The shape of the front turret and size of the main gun on this tank can easily be contrasted with the 120mm gun tanks below. (Picture taken 1 Jan 1983; available from the Defense Visual Information Center.)
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The detachable stowage rack introduced on the IPM1 can be contrasted with the original bustle tie-downs on the tank at the top of the page. (Picture taken 1 Jan 1987 by MSG William B. Belcher; available from the Defense Visual Information Center.)
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The larger main gun marks this vehicle as an M1A1. The vent for the overpressure NBC system can be seen above the number 5 track skirt. The smoke grenade launchers have been upgraded from those originally found on the tank, and an external auxiliary power unit is visible in the turret bustle stowage basket. (Picture taken 1 Apr 2003 by CPL Mace M. Gratz; available from the Defense Visual Information Center.)
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The discolored grille on the rear hull of this tank is the engine exhaust. The other two grilles are for engine and transmission oil cooling. The tank commander is CPT William T. Cundy. (Picture taken 13 Nov 2003 by TSGT John L. Houghton, Jr.; available from the Defense Visual Information Center.)
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The Abrams tank was fitted with a six-barrel smoke grenade launcher on each side of the turret. These could be fired individually or both at once.
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The rear deck of the M1A1 features engine air inlet grilles and various access hatches.
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The turret bustle features blowoff panels over the ammunition stowage, so that if an ammunition explosion occurs, the energy and gases will be dispersed into the atmosphere instead of into the crew compartment. The tank's crosswind sensor is visible in the lower right corner of this picture.
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The device on the end of the gun tube is the vehicle's muzzle reference system. This allows the gunner and ballistic computer to account for droop in the main gun's barrel caused by uneven heating. The thermal shroud on the barrel was intended to help alleviate this problem.
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The gunner's primary sight was located in an armored "doghouse" on the turret roof. The daylight sight, TIS, and laser rangefinder were all located in the doghouse, and armored shutters protected the optics while not in use.
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The coaxial machine gun on the Abrams was provided with a flash-suppressing barrel shroud.
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The loader was provided with a hatch in the turret roof across from the TC, and a periscope was installed in his hatch door.
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The TC's position was ringed with six vision blocks, as well as the sight for the .50cal machine gun. The cupola hatch door could also be positioned so that it provided overhead protection while still allowing the TC outside vision.
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This view into the turret shows the gunner's seat, and just to its left, the breech for the 120mm main gun. The gunner was provided with a chest support, and it is folded off to the right. The coaxial machine gun's ready ammunition box is labeled, and the belt of ammo would snake across the top of the main gun's breech.
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The opposite side of the turret interior is shown here. The loader's seat is visible, as is the vehicle's radio setup behind the padded shoulder guard. When in action, the shoulder guard would be swung down to protect the loader from the recoil of the main gun. Below the radio is stowage for field boxes of 7.62mm ammunition.
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The ready rack of 120mm ammunition is shown here. The turret bustle ammunition is placed behind blast doors, so that if there is an ammunition detonation, the roof blowoff panels will vent the blast away from the crew compartment. There is a semi-ready rack behind the commander's position, and rounds are transferred to the ready rack as it is depleted and as time allows.
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The loader's control panel is shown here, and would give indications of the main gun's status as well as operate the turret ventilation blower and turret drive. A blue night light is visible towards the top of the image.
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The bustle ammunition blast doors were operated by this padded kneeswitch.
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A look at the gunner's position is provided here. The chest support is folded out of the way, and a kneepad is provided on the turret basket. The red handle is the main gun's manual firing handle, and just above that is the gunner's auxiliary sighting telescope.
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This image provides a close look at the gunner's control cadillacs. The large switches on the front of the handles are the palm switches to engage the tank's stabilization system, the thumb buttons are for firing the laser rangefinder, and the index triggers are for firing the weapons.
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The gunner's control panel is shown here. His primary sight and its browpad can be seen at the top of the picture.
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The TC was able to see what the gunner was looking at via the gunner's primary sight extension. The gunner's controls are visible low in the background, and above those are the handles that open and close the armored shutters for the gunner's primary sight.
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The .50cal machine gun cupola was traversed electrically, and the traverse control handle is shown here. The TC had to elevate the machine gun manually with another handwheel.
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The tank commander was provided with a turret control handle as well, and could override the gunner's inputs if necessary. The TC's override was equipped with triggers for the laser rangefinder and weapons, so the TC could fight the tank if the need arose. The gunner's chest support is visible near the bottom of the picture.
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The TC's control panel is shown in this image.
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The driver's instrument panel is shown here.
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The driver's master panel is on his right side.
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The driver controlled throttle and steering with a motorcycle-style T-bar. Throttle was controlled by twisting the handle, and therfore an accelerator pedal was not needed. The transmission selector is placed above the T-bar, and the black parking brake release handle is to the driver's right.
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The commander's independent thermal viewer can be seen in front of the loader's position on this vehicle, and it is aimed to the tank's right. A tow bar is stowed on the tank's bow. (Picture taken 26 Jan 2006 by SSGT Aaron D. Allmon, II; available from the Defense Visual Information Center.)
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© Copyright 2007 Chris Conners